2019 Life Member Inductee

Jodi is one of three Petherick sisters - Jodi, Elise and Kirsty.

The Petherick family has been involved in the club for many years and has undertaken many and varied roles. Kirsty Ross is currently an A1 umpire.

22 years ago, in 1997, Jodi was part of a group of friends who approached the Henley Parish Uniting netball club to see if they could join up and play. Jodi and her sister, Elise, lived at Grange and Jodi's children were christened at the Grange Uniting Church, so this seemed like the ideal place to join.

Jodi and Elise were accepted into the club and played in the a1 competition for seven years in a row from 1997 until 2003. Incredibly, Jodi and her team won the premiership in all seven of those years which is a remarkable achievement.

The umpire for that team at the time was George Morgan and he pointed out that at one stage, the team had won 51 consecutive games.

Between 1997 and 1999, whilst playing in the senior team, the numbers of junior teams at the club dwindled out completely. Rather than sit back, Jodi and Elise took on the roles of president and secretary of what was, at the time, a very small netball club.

It was also during the late 90's that the club changes its name to the Grange Uniting Netball Club, to come in line with the church. The club also expanded to include another open team in A2.

In 2002, Cathy Sulley asked Jodi if she could bring a team of U8 girls to the club. This was the start of having junior teams at the club once again.

In 2004, Jodi hung up her Dunlop volleys from playing and began her coaching career. She started by teaching a few of the 5 and 6-year-old girls basic netball skills. These girls included her daughter Ashlea, Tori Rowe, and Hannah Ross. They competed in U8 that year, only winning 2 games. The following year, in 2005, as a second-year U8 team, they won the premiership!

Jodi's younger daughter, Natasha, started playing netball in 2006. Since 2004, Jodi has coached a Grange team which has included either one or both of her daughters - a grand total, and still counting, of 16 consecutive years of coaching!

Amazingly, as well as coaching during that period Jodie, held executive positions on the committee. with her input and guidance the club grew from 1 junior team in 2002 to 14 junior teams in 2008 - an achievement she is very proud of.

Between 1998 and 2008 Jodie held positions as President, Secretary, Registrar, Uniform coordinator, Stall coordinator, Equipment coordinator, published a monthly newsletter, organised registration day, organised trials and selected for all junior teams, organised the alternate venue roster, ran clinics for aspiring coaches.

Jodi also managed to organise the club to become incorporated and therefore, have a constitution. This was a very big job - and today, Jodi still holds the official role of 'authorised officer' for the club.

Jodi tells us that between her daughters, Ashlea and Natasha, they have won around 4 premierships each.

One of Jodi's biggest highlights came in 2008 when she coached Natasha's team to an U9 premiership, together with coaching Ashley's team to a U11 premiership - both on the same day. That must give her "super coach" status.

In more recent times Jodi has coached the girls at an open team level, where they won back to back premierships in 2017 and 2018 in B1 and A4. This must be a very proud achievement for a coach and Mum. Jodi is one of very few coaches to achieve 'back to back' status!

Jodis' contribution to the Grange Uniting Netball Club is immense. She is the type of person who makes a club great. Her drive and enthusiasm over many years has helped make Grange one of the premier clubs in the Uniting Church competition.

Thank you!